WHITEWATER RAFTING

Jackson Lake Sea Kayak & Snake River Rafting Combo

Combine one or two days of kayaking on Jackson Lake with a relaxing float trip on the Snake River. Peacefully meandering along the base of the majestic Tetons, the Snake brings you face to face with the splendor of Wyoming’s wilderness. You’ll be awed by bright aspens shimmering before a backdrop of evergreens, the contrast of cobalt river and light blue sky, the serrated peaks of the Teton frosted with snow. This is a photographer’s haven, with abundant wildlife – including moose, deer, elk, and bald eagles – inhabiting the shores. Families find this package a rich addition to a Yellowstone road trip – all activities are suitable for kids as young as four.

Trip Details

Day 1:
On the morning your trip begins, gather at the Signal Mountain Public Boat Ramp, located inside Grand Teton National Park. Here you meet your guides and the others on your trip — all sharing in excited expectation of what’s to come.

After your guide presents a thorough demonstration on kayaking techniques, and safety procedures, you are on your way. Your personal gear will be safely stowed in a motorized snout rig. Depending on water and weather conditions, you will board sleek one- or two-person touring kayaks en route to the base camp. The motorized craft will act as a support boat — supplying lunch and a lift if you so desire. As you move across the lake, stop periodically to relax, have a bite to eat and revel beneath the towering peaks of the Teton Range. It is seven miles to a secluded campsite on Grassy Island, or to Spalding Bay, a perfect jumping off point for the adventures ahead.

Spend the afternoon however you choose: finish your novel, paint a sunset or pull in a cutthroat trout worthy of tall tales. A guide will lead short paddles, and you are able to hike up a rushing creek, all in the shadow of majestic mountains.

You’ll probably find that paddling can inspire quite an appetite — and dinnertime comes none too soon. Your tastes may be less discriminating when eating in a wilderness setting, but O.A.R.S. are not. The menus served will astound in their diversity, quality and presentation — foods of fine restaurants without the walls.

Evenings in camp are as magical as the days, and after dinner you might enjoy a moonlight paddle, or perhaps a bright and cheery campfire, where you’ll gather for conversation stories, and laughter. Fall asleep under the stars of the wide Wyoming sky, content in the knowledge that it’s rest well earned.

O.A.R.S. is sure you’ll agree that the more time you spend on Jackson Lake, the more comprehensive your experience will be. If you’re on the three-day you’ll have plenty of time to sample the activities that this tranquil yet rich wilderness area has to offer. Countless quiet inlets and miles of shoreline beg to be explored; perhaps you’ll encounter a moose drinking from the shallows, an eagle perched in a nearby aspen, or a family of deer quietly foraging in the woods as you glide past the shore in silent kayaks. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore, and the bucolic lake constantly beckons you to swim or fish in its sapphire waters.

Day 2 or 3:
After a scrumptious early breakfast, load up early for a return trip to Signal Mountain. Leaving kayaks and Jackson Lake behind, take a 20-minute shuttle ride around the dam to access the river portion of the journey. You put on at Pacific Creek aboard sturdy rafts, expertly maneuvered through the maze of the Snake River’s braided channels.

Wildlife is abundant and the sightings are many as you meander across the valley floor. Bear and bison, moose and muskrat, beaver and bald eagle all frequent this area with amazing regularity.

Stunning views of the Tetons, the most jagged range in the Rocky Mountains, develop and change as you follow the twists and turns of the river’s passage — each bend a new excuse to snap a few photos.

Stop for lunch on the river bank, relaxing in the most picturesque of settings: the river rambles past, the Teton loom majestically in a bright blue sky, cottonwoods, aspen stands and lodge pole pines practically burst in all shades of green.

All told, you will have covered 13 river miles, ending the journey at Deadman’s Bar near the southern end of the park. A shuttle will return you to your vehicle by around 4:00pm.